Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-13
EPISC0P
TIE TROUBLE III THE CHURCH II
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Report Of the Committee OF the Dele
gates Who Withdrew on the
Color Question.
By telegraph to The pI.pntch.l

CHhTLEsToN, July 12.-The commit
tee appointed by the clerical and lay
deloQates who Withdrew from the Do
cesar Episcopal Convention in Charles
ton last May have completed their state
ment Of the causes which led TO the
withdrawal. 1t is signed by ex-Secre-
tary {. :. Memminger, Edward Nc
Grady, Jr., W. st. j. Jervey, w. G.
Icnot, and c. G. r.. Drayton, and will
make pamphlet Of about sixty pages.
The committee begin by sketching the
history Of the dividing question during
the last twelve years, and contend that
it slows that the position of the ll!ty
with regard to the admission OF
Colorod clergymen to diocesan con
vontions differs from that Of many
Of the clergy. not IN principle but ~
eXpedicncy. In 1885 the question took
Tie shape OF an assertion OF the right
OF ill clergynen on the Bishops LIST
to Il seat in the convention independen
Of the action of that body and virtue
Of the clergyman's Office. The subject
was avoided the next year, but came
up in convention last May, not as
mntter OF principle but as in
yolyiug only the question Of the
admission of colored clergymen
10 church councils. The Bishop
having notwithstanding the re-
lusal of the convention TO confirm the
report Of the committee on the clergy
list-that the convention was duly or
panizod for business. aud, having -
nored the refusal of the convention to
sustain his rniing. the dissidents had
40 choice but to submit protest, re-
sort to parliamentary expedicnts, or
withdraw with dignity. They accord
ingly withdrew from the convention.
It's recognized 10y the committee, how
ever, That the point to be determined
is whether the admission OF cOlOred
clergymcn to the convention WAS con-
templated in tue constitution of the
Church. They contend it was not and
that this is the first attempt in the his
tory OF the Church to make the Church
other than a national church-that IS,
the church of a race" They beliey,
the seating of colored clergymen IN the
convention to be not only unconstltu-
tional but dangerous, and in this rela-
ton recall the resolution Of Prentiss in
1915, asserting the right of exclusion.
In tue resolutions OF the standing
committee on the Saltus case in 1915.
recognizing the differences of the two
races brought together in the diocese,
and the report of the Sewannee Con
ference in favor Of missionary orglal-
zation because of the popularity oil the
relations between the two races, 1t is
argued that there is no danger what
ever 10 any of the social barriers be
tween the races if the colored pc PIE
be t.bon into the councils and
cluirhCs as The equals Of whites
Rut Tie committee are confident that
he actual and practical result would
be 10 force negro social equality upon
tie PEOPLE. The duty and response.
bility OF the Church in the southern
STAT in regard TO the colored people
is fully recognized, but there is no call
"t0 take them into our councils.
IN conclusion, the committee Civ,
their reasons for holding that there WIS
no legal convention in 1887. They
claim that the election Of the standing
committee and the attempted alteration
in tie constitution were void and OF
no eject, even had the illegality OF the
Bishops ruling not otherwise yit.atei
It's proceedings.
Tie importance Ok the congregations
represented 10y the dissident5 who with
drew from the convention is shown in
an unmistakablc way. Those who with
dfew represented more than lalf Of al
the persons connected with the Church
and more than half Of all the cOmmunl-
cauts. They represent also the parishes
which pay nearly two thirds OF the con
vention expenses. more than two thirds
of the bishops fund, and nearly two
Thirds Of the contributions to missions.
The committee say, in Withdrawing
from the convention. that they did not
withdraw from the Church. 1t is for
the laity TO determine what their future
course shall be. They viii not impair
their connection with the Church by
Withdrawing from union with The con-
ycntion. They can. il they choose,
send deputies with instructions to
abandon the position which has been
taken. and in admitting the
colorod element to tae Church
councils brave the dangers from
which the dissidcnt- shrink ; but if the
laity desires that tie right to pass upon
the clergy list shall he abandoned they
must choose to represent them by Other
deputies than those who Withdrew
L., IL nD1.rnnlinn IL 1857